CityDog Paw-tay a Smashing Success!

Puppy love was in the air at the 2nd annual CityDog "For the Love of Dog" cocktail party. Over 250 people, with their fuzzy Valentines in tow, joined us at Seattle's elegant Renaissance Hotel to celebrate the love of dog! The pups were on their best behavior (as were the humans)...with lots of mingling (people) and plenty of butt sniffing (dogs, obviously!). Photo courtesy of Kathleen Cragun, who just happened to be staying at the Renaissance on the same night with her husband. They couldn't help but notice the arrival of hundreds of dogs and had to see what it was all about! We'll post more pictures soon, so stay tuned!

Canine Controversy

Wow, who knew there would be so much controversy around dogs in taverns?! Click here to read what Seattleites have to say about it (warning dog lovers...it ain't all good).

Bar Hopping with Bowzer?

Hooray for Senator Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, for his measure proposed in Senate Bill 5484 that would allow well-behaved, leashed canines to join their human companions at the neighborhood pub! We in the Northwest love our microbrews and we also love our dogs, so this is great news! Read the full story in today's Seattle Times here. Note: There will be a public hearing in Olympia on Tuesday before the Senate Labor, Commerce, Research & Development Committee. How do you feel about this measure? Post a comment here.

Dogs Rule the World

If you're a political/news junkie with a sense of humor then you must read The Onion. If you're a political/news junkie with a sense of humor who loves dogs then enjoy a dose of "Fair and Balanced News from the Canine Ministry of Information" at ObeythePurebreed.com, a website dedicated to peddling "propaganda for canine world domination." (Note: CityDog is not an affilliate of ObeythePurebreed.com; we just dig cool websites, especially if they're all about the dog!)

Sucker for Cute Dog Videos

Okay, so we're a sucker for cute dog videos even if it is blatant advertising. Check out this interactive doggie video brought to you by HeartGard. Type in different commands like sit, beg, roll over and shake! Then, type in kiss and see what happens!

http://www.idodogtricks.com/index_flash.html

Overweight and Style-Conscious Dogs a Sign of the End?

Read Ed Wall's article in today's New Bern Sun Journal here and decide for yourself.

Fun Dog Fact #4: Dog and Butterfly

Papillon is French for "butterfly." Hence, the papillon is so named for its large ears that resemble butterfly wings. Pictured here is Oliver; photo submitted by Christina Rodriguez.

Fun Dog Fact #3

According to a recent survey of dog lovers, the 10 gassiest dogs are: German shepherd, "mixed breed," Labrador retriever, boxer, Doberman pinscher, poodle, cocker spaniel, rottweiler, beagle, Dalmatian. (Source: Planet Dog: A Doglopedia, Hougton Mifflin, 2005.)

Pictured here: CityDog's own gassy boxer, Scout. Scout says, "Who me?"

Fun Dog Fact #2

The five most common male dog names are: Max, Jake, Buddy, Bailey and Sam. The five most common female dog names are: Maggie, Molly, Lady, Sadie and Lucy. (Source: Planet Dog: A Doglopedia, Houghton Mifflin Books, 2005.)

Pictured here is Sam, a loyal CityDog reader! Sam says, "I love CityDog!"

Goliath (a.k.a. Hercules) is Reunited with Owner

This just in....Everyone’s favorite large-bodied cat—an unusually “stocky” stray tabby caught wedged in a doggie door while scavenging for food—was reunited today with his estranged owner. Nicknamed Goliath because of his huge girth, the cat was captured by a kind homeowner who found the stray struggling to free himself from a too-small doggie door. The cat’s real name is Hercules, and he went missing six months ago, said owner Geoff Ernest. "There was a house sitter when I was away in Seattle for a lung transplant and he took off and never returned."

CityDog loves happy endings...especially, for this one cool city kitty.

One Fat Cat

I know this is CityDog, not CityKitty, but this is too hilarious. Check this out. A stray cat, nicknamed “Goliath,” was found stuck in a doggie door trying to steal food from the homeowner's cats. Despite his size, this fat cat must be one stealth dude. Goliath weighs in at 20.2 pounds. If he is not claimed in three days the Oregon Humane Society, located in Portland, will neuter him and make him available for adoption. "He will sure warm your lap this winter,” said Sharon Harmon, OHS executive director. “People with a king size bed would be a good fit for this cat.” The Oregon Humane Society will add a free bag of low calorie cat food with the adoption. No kidding.

Fun Dog Fact #1

An average city dog lives approximately three years longer than an average country dog (source: www.funshun.com).

Bye Bye Year of the Dog - Hello Year of the Pig

I'm sad to say the Year of the Dog is coming to a close. I liked the idea of living in a year influenced by the dog. According to Chinese astrology, it's a time when we humans imbue the qualities of our canine friends; that is, loyalty, generosity and selflessness. February marks the Year of the Pig (or Boar, if you prefer). After a Google search, I learned the pig is the most generous and honorable sign of the zodiac, and the Year of the Pig heralds a year of contentment, security and optimism. Not a bad forecast. This year is also the Year of the "Red" Pig, which only comes around every 60 years and is considered a year of booming business and family. Maybe it's time to start that pet business you've been dreaming about? Or what better way to usher in the Year of the Pig than by adopting a new four-legged family member?!

In closing, here's a weird piece of news I found on YahooNews: Chinese scientists have successfully bred partially green fluorescent pigs (link to full story here).

Happy Year of the Pig...whether it be red or green!

A New Year's Resolution You Can Keep

Make 2007 a better year for pets and people by taking to heart a New Year’s resolution for your best four-legged friend. The Oregon Humane Society encourages everyone to adopt the Top Ten Resolutions below to improve the lives of pets, people and homeless animals.

Repeat after us: In 2007, I resolve to show my love for my four-legged companion.

Here’s how:

1. Get a microchip ID for my pets to go along with their ID tags
2. Get exercise by walking my dog every day
3. Play with my cat every day
4. Remember to keep my pet fit and trim and refrain from using food as love
5. Pack a disaster preparedness “go pack” for my pet, just in case
6. Teach humane treatment of animals to my children (you can even encourage their school to invite the Oregon Humane Society or The Humane Society for Seattle/King County to make a classroom presentation)
7. Schedule my pet’s annual veterinarian appointment
8. Volunteer my time and talents at a local animal shelter to help homeless pets
9. Encourage friends, family, co-workers, and acquaintances to have their pets spayed or neutered
10. Give the gift of compassion with a monetary donation to my local animal shelter

From CityDog, have a safe and happy New Year!

Okay, all you dog lovers out there, CityDog needs your help with our Bark of the Town section. Bark of the Town (a.k.a. in human-speak as "Talk of the Town") features nuggets of doggie-related news...little tidbits of information such as a new dog park opening, a unique event like the blessing of animals at local churches (who woulda thought?), special services such as a restaurant just for dogs...stuff like that! How about a fun website you've discovered? Do you have any ideas for us? Do you know something we don't know? Share it with us and we might just share it with fellow readers in the next issue of CityDog!

CityDog on KOMO 4 News

CityDog editor Brandie Ahlgren was a guest on Seattle's KOMO 4 News last Thursday to talk about holiday gift ideas for dogs and dog lovers. Click here for last minute gift ideas for Christmas or get a head start on Valentine's Day!

And of course, the winter issue of CityDog makes a great stocking stuffer and a gift subscription lasts the whole year!

For a list of stores where you can find CityDog, click here. CityDog is also sold at Barnes & Noble, Borders, B Dalton and Hastings in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and northern California.

Wishing you and yours the very best in the coming New Year!

From Scout (in the reindeer ears) & Ziggy...CityDog Magazine

Fremont Oktoberfest Cover Dog Search

The crowd went wild at Fremont Oktoberfest as 120 dogs took to the stage for a chance to be the next CityDog cover dog!

Bella, Zoltan, Happy, Glory, Henry, Bodie, Ula, Playa, Ginger...these are just a few of the canine contestants that strutted their stuff on the "catwalk."

Check out ALL of the fabulous Fremont Oktoberfest cover dog contestants here photographed by J. Nichole Smith of Dane & Dane Photography.

Our third and final contestant!

This is Gatsby, a bull mastiff, and our third and final contestant in the CityDog cover dog model search. Gatsby competed for the cover at Fremont Oktoberfest and the turnout was AMAZING...a total of 120 dogs strutted their stuff on stage to raise money for the Doney Memorial Clinic and a chance to be on the cover of CityDog.

We will be asking CityDog readers to vote soon! We know it will be difficult to choose...imagine choosing from the hundreds of dogs entered in the model searches! Excruciating, because all dogs are special in their own way.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the first-ever CityDog Cover Dog Model Search. Dogs rule!

Our second winner!

Congratulations to labradoodle Jessie Mei! She is the winner of the second CityDog cover dog model search that took place last weekend at Walk for the Animals at Redmond Town Center. Close to 100 dogs participated in the contest, which kept J. Nichole Smith of Dane & Dane Photography very busy snapping head shots of every pooch! You can see all of the dogs entered in the CityDog cover dog model search here. As you can see, it was extremely difficult to choose...ALL of the dogs are worthy of the cover!

We have one more event to go on Sunday at Fremont Oktoberfest then we will ask CityDog readers to vote on the final dog to grace the Spring 2007 cover.

Thank you to everyone who entered their pooch in a cover dog model search. We think all of your dogs are beautiful plus you helped us raise money for a great cause. And it's truly been a pleasure to witness how much we love our dogs in the Northwest!